This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.
215087 Responseshttp://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist/How+am+I+not+a+racist%3F2010-04-20+01%3A14%3A45Sam+Richards to How am I not a racist?
This is an interesting topic you bring up. You said that you think that you probably have a better chance of affecting the world in a much greater way than people in a developing nation and I would agree with you 100%. It has nothing to do with the comparison of you to one of them. It’s the fact that you are most likely in a much more powerful and influential position than they are. You have much more money and a higher level of education than they do. Now if those two things were equal amongst you, I have no idea who would have the better chance of affecting the world. What you have is a greater opportunity than a person is a developing country.
I really don't see this as racism at all. I also don't see the statement of saying "i feel that I can help the world better than them" as you thinking you're a better person. There is a broad line. The whole deal about this is that you just feel that you have better resources than the people in the third world countries that would allow you to make a more progressive effect towards the world. This is an understandable thought. The citizens of the third world countries are living in poverty, and don't have as much that they can contribute that can make a big difference. Americans do. This is sort of no different than the people in American society themselves. The separation of upper, middle, and low class. There are those people in the lower and middle who feel they are better off or just happier than the upper class. The sad fact of the matter is the statistic that was said in class the other day that the United States only contributes .34 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to help developing countries. That was the true shocker that relates to this. I can make a good guess that if we surveyed the entire country and asked them if they feel they can help the world better than these third world countries can that at least 80 percent would say yes. But would most of them actually do it or would less than 50 percent? But when you think about it, the developing countries are already affecting the globe on a much larger scale than the prospering ones. If it weren't for their poverty, we would not feel the strong need to help out the other countries so much. We would most likely be focused on trade, with imports and exports as our method of growing and helping our own selves. The developing countries bring awareness to an issue. They open our eyes. They humble us. There is no need to twist your statement into saying it is a racist one. I do not really know you. You could be, but having the mindset that you can help the world better because you have more resources is not racist. And when you say racist, another question I have is towards who. This is more of a one society vs. another type of situation, not race against race. Even man vs man can be used instead. Resources are the key, not personality. The people in some of these developing countries probably have the best personalities there has ever been. They would probably love to give more if they had it. On the other hand, a person who does have enough to give can do it but be stingy with it. There is a big difference between wanting to help someone and actually thinking more highly of you.
I think this is a good question, but I think he might be putting to much of a quilt vibe out there. Just thinking that you have more a chance to make a difference in the world definitely doesn't make you a racist. I don't think acknowledging that you are more fortunate then other people should make you feel superior to anyone else, its just happenstance. We do live a sheltered life in America and we do have more of a chance to make real changes in the world because we are basically rich. But I don't think enough people feel that its there responsibility to help. Sam really made me think when he was talking about how we don't really earn all the things we have in life. If more people acknowledged that fact maybe they would be more inclined to help people and understand that they were just lucky enough to be born with certain advantages.
Knowing that you are able to make a change and that other people are less capable doesn’t make you a racist. Obviously some people have certain advantages and tools that allow them to make a change. The real question is are you going to do something about the fact that you are capable of change or are you just going to sit their, acknowledge your capabilities, and then do nothing. That can make it seem a little more racist because now it is like you know you are more capable of something and you judge other people for not being as capable.
I think it’s really tough to draw a line between two seemingly different positions that are indeed quite closely related. I think what you need to keep in mind is that when your actually considering what position you hold, you need to remember you are in these developing countries not because you think you’re better, but because you are willing to help. And it’s not just about being willing; it’s about having the financial resources and capability of traveling somewhere to help those who are less fortunate than you. In that regard, I feel as though you are just giving back to society, and that racism actually has no meaning in the circumstance.
I understand what he’s saying and to be honest I never thought of it this way. I know that if I were to go to developing countries I would probably come back thinking that same thing or that I am extremely lucky to be living how I am. I think that you have to think of it a certain way however. Not really that you are better than them but that you have more advantages then some on those people in these countries. I don’t think it has to do with being racist because you don’t think that your race is superior to theirs, just simply that you were lucky enough to have more resources.
This is an interesting way to spin the whole Idea and I can honestly say I never quite thought about it like that but I have come up with a stance on your view point and or question. I feel that yes you may be better off than people in third world countries developing from near nothing but that isnt to say that you are a better person. I don't want you to take that the wrong way, I don't know you and you could be an awesome guy but what a person has isnt what makes the person. I feel like it is what is on the inside, their values, their beliefs that make the person into who they are. Things can be given to anyone, once a person has these material possessions they are not automatically a better person. They may be viewed differently by others but that goes back to judging a book by its cover. If you have a guy pulling up in a beat 1988 Civic next to a guy in a 2010 Range your idea of self worth may be altered about those two individuals. When in reality the two men would be different even if they were driving the same car. It is all perception and what we have surrounding us often alters others perception of us.
I think that while thinking you could change the world better than someone from a developing country, isn't a bad thing as long as you remember the fact that your a single person doing things for the betterment of the world not to be better yourself. people need to remember that being better capable to affect the world is not being better or superior to other people. we as Americans are in a great position to aid the rest of the world through technology and education but we need to respect the people we help they have a different outlook on life and progress. I think that if we respect the people we help and the cultures we look to help then thinking were better or worth more will be hard to do because we'll be thinking about our contribution and not about being superior. you could argue that Nazi Germany saw it's self as a world changer for the better at first but they quickly grew into monsters, I'm not saying that they were doing any good, for them it was about getting revenge but trying to help people and taking over for them to make it easier would be a simple mater in order to make fixing the problems we see easier to fix.
I think in general no matter what you do, at the end of the day you are helping someone wether it be in this country or in a developing country. The reason why you would view someone else as a racist would be on their own judgement. I am sure in many of these developing country that we go in thinking that we are helping them ensures ours and their better quality of life. I feel like people here feel the need and reason and benefit to help more in developing countries because it gives them satisfaction, versus helping someone here.
i think that these are two different thoughts entirely. Just because you believe you have a better chance then someone else doesn't mean that's racist. i think if anything its cultural racism, because if you saw a poor white person on the street your obviously going to think you might have a better chance to succeed. i think racism is the feeling for hating someone because of their origins and how they live, not because you think you might be better off. but maybe im wrong and i am white and maybe i just cant see it, i think sam would just be proud im trying to think about it.
I think that your statement that you "probably have a better chance at affecting the world in a much greater way than the people in other countries do" is true in some ways but not all ways.
First i think its true in the sense since as an American and/or as someone who can afford to attend classes at Penn State you have many more resources available to you. We are blessed to be able to live with such freedom from financial burdens and to have the ability to choose what to do with our time. Therefore, i don't think the statement that we probably have a better chance is true but more along the lines that we have a better set of resources to make a greater impact. However, it is not about the resources but how we use them that makes the difference.
I would like to argue that as an American, you might have less chance of affecting the world. I say this only because we are raised in a very egocentric country (this too you know, since we talked about that also in class) that while we may hear about the need, we don't see it or feel it. We can easily give a few dollars here and there and make ourselves feel good about helping the "cause" but are we really affecting the world? Nahhhh. However, because of our money supply some of us may step up and travel across oceans to where there are people in truly desperate need. I think we all would agree that this is so much better than just chipping in a few dollars. But this is where the lecture we had teh other day on Haiti changed my thinking. I had always thought of the humanitarian work for other countries as 100% good. Now i see that there is more to think about.
After class, I went up to talk to Sam and to the guest lecturer and I heard talk about wanting to go and make a difference. Even my own thoughts were about "making a difference" but I think that when we think about this and want to go to a foreign country maybe just maybe some of us are doing it because it makes us feel good. We know that our resources that we are practically bathing in here are being put towards something good and we are proving ourselves as worthy. We try to prove ourselves as "good" people; (and here's where the racism issue comes in ) we might even be trying to prove ourselves as "better" people.
So, while i dont think you are necessarily racist for thinking that you have a better chance at helping people, i do think that if we allow ourselves to help out for the wrong reasons we all could very well find out that there are egotistic and racist motive behind them. Be careful of what you do and why you do it. Examine your conscience and do a check if the benefit to others is out weighing the benefit to you.
Because your thinking is based off of situational facts, I do not consider it racist. You are not declaring yourself a superior race or person based off of subjective information, rather you are basing it on your position in the world. You have many more resources in your life than they will probably ever have which is potentially saddening because you have probably met great people who you can relate to once you remove your economic status from the picture. I think a racist thinker is one who, if put in the same economic situation as the other person, would still consider themselves to be superior.
I think there is a fine line however i wouldn't necessarily consider that to be racism as long as you are able to distinguish a few things. If you feel that you are able to make a bigger difference in the world than someone who is in a developing country you have to realize that this is based solely on the fact that you were born in a country in which you automatically have way more opportunities than any other country in the world. If you know that your ability to do more is based on the luck of your situation and you know its not because you are a better or more fit person based on your race than i would not consider this racism.
I don’t think that it has to do with racism or thinking that you are better than anyone else. I think it’s just stating the truth, that we as Americans have the ability to make an impact where as if you go to a 3rd world country you can see that it’s much harder for them to make an impact. I don’t necessarily think that that makes you think that you are better than anyone, just that you are more able and accessible that other people. The real question is, now that we’ve realized that we have this ability to make a difference, an ability that others obviously don’t have, what do we do with that. Is that where it ends? Do we realize that we have this ability and they don’t and then move on? That might make it a little racist. However, if we realize that we have this ability to create change and then we do something about it, how can that be racist or thinking that you are better than anyone, its using you’re eligibility and accessibility as a means of helping.
I feel that the problem lies in those who think they are more able people, more intelligent, more “gifted” than other people without taking into the fact that you are just more accessible. This accessibility in no way makes people better, just able to do more with what they have been given. It all depends on how we consider ourselves better cotenants to make a difference, and how we employ this advantage and ability to make a change and a difference.
That’s also where the whole “politically incorrect” thing comes into play. Just by saying that you believe you can make a bigger difference than people less able does not make you a racist, but obviously you question that motive due to political correctness. I agree that sometimes there is a fine line between what can be considered racist and what is not, and sometimes things are said incorrectly which can give them a racist undertone, but it’s all in the execution and the way people perceive what you are saying. Maybe that makes you even less of a racist that you go to these other countries, look at the conditions that people are in, and conclude that you have been lucky enough to have the ability to enforce change and make things better, maybe for the people who you feel more capable than. Its not a bad or racist thing to realize your potential and the risks and hardships that prevent other less capable of employing such change.
So basically, no I do not think that what you are saying makes you a racist. I understand that if I were said in a different way, or if you realized this ability and did nothing with it that it would possibly qualify as racist.
I also agree with a majority of what everyone else has said regarding whether or not this can be considered as racist- there is definitely a fine line that is drawn, but just because you, by chance, have better opportunities than other people in undeveloped countries does not constitute as something so negative. It is especially unracistlike to want to be able to put these opportunities to use and really help other people out. I originally thought this video, because of the title, was going to be asking if a certain comment or term was considered racist, but I’m really glad that it was asking this question in particular, because it is something so interesting to consider. Overall, I really think it’s how you portray yourself. If you’re going to go around and parade the fact that you’re better off than a lot of other people in different countries, then maybe racism will come into play.
This is a very thought provoking and interesting question. I think inevitably there’s a fine line between thinking your better than someone and racism/bias. I think racism has a little bit more of an irrational fear and hatred for a specific group or groups of people. I think many people who could very well affect the living situations of developing countries are taught to worry about themselves from when they are raised. Even the simplistic “its not polite to stare” doesn’t allow for your curious mind to find out more about people. I can honestly say that some people probably don’t think of being able to helping these developing countries at all. Like this guy said it took him several trips to realize that he could be making a profound impact on thousands of lifes of other people in developing nations. I guess this goes along with the whole out of sight out of mind principle. I guess it’s difficult to draw the line where racism starts and not caring begins.
I think that legal immigrants as long as they are paying taxes should receive the same health care as every other American citizen. If immigrant is here legally I think it'd be difficult to refuse coverage. If an immigrant is here illegally again I think it might be difficult to refuse coverage, but what if immigrants started to come here solely for the purpose of receiving free (or discounted) healthcare that they very well could receive in their own nation? I am well aware of the many companies especially along the Mexican border that use undocumented works so our commodities are cheaper, but I feel like you have to draw the line somewhere. If not stiffer border protection and more expensive commodities would come at the price not letting illegal immigrants to use our health care, I say so be it.
I agree there is a very fine line and it is hard to determine what is just, well confidence in the affect you will have on the world, and what is just plain racism. I think that you didn't do anything wrong and that many people would feel that way. However, I don't think it is because you simply think you're better. I think it is because we come from a nation that provides us with so many more opportunities and advantages than developing 3rd world countries do. It is simply what is available to you. I'm sure if the people in those countries had the same opportunities we do as Americans, they would go on to accomplish so much in this world. I mean for all we know one of them could have the cure to cancer, but don't have the opportunities to get a good education and go on to do research, because of the lack of what is available to them.
I mean its the same here in America. A rich white person is no better than a poor black person simply because they could afford to go to a good school and were, therefore, introduced to many more opportunities and more doors were opened to them. It is not a race thing, it is more of a class issue than anything.
Unfortunately, I know there are many people here in our country that do genuinely believe they are better than say a tribe in New Guinea or the poor in Ethiopia or Haiti. It is an unfortunate fact, but the truth about some of Americans and I think we need to change that. I don’t think that many people take the perspective that maybe they were just fortunate enough to be given the wealth and freedom that they have to live a more than comfortable life.
I also, think that we need to change the mind set of many of those who are fortunate in this country. I think being arrogant is sometimes mistaken for self-confidence in this country. Being arrogant is not okay, because we are all equally important. We may not all have the same situations or the same finances, but every man is as important of the next, regardless of race, upbringing, religion, class, etc;
I think all you can do is hope to use what has been given to you here in America, and give back to those 3rd world countries you visited, so that maybe one day they can make a difference in the world as well. Simply caring is making a difference and I think that is what is the most important thing.
This is an interesting point. I definitely see what your saying, but I guess maybe if you start to think this way, you just need to remind yourself of the truth. Think about how the only reason you are in a position to help is because you were born into a position that allows you to get an education. You are able to make money at a greater rate than these poor people, because of where you live and who your parents are. You are lucky, not chosen. If you can see this, then hopefully you will not see yourself as the great, chosen one who deserves all he gets and others are simply lucky enough to receive what they get. The truth is, in a purely economic sense, the average Penn State student probably is worth more than a starving person is Haiti, because others have invested more in you, but it is simply by luck that we have received that investment. Keep that in mind, and hopefully you can keep things in perspective.
Additional Blog#2
There is nothing wrong with believing that you can make an impact on the world. However, when you get to the point where you think your impact is better than someone else’s that is when you must examine something inside yourself. What gives you right to think that your impact on the world is better than anyone else’s? I don’t think this has to do with racism in particular, but it does have everything to do with classism and money. I mean the only reason you possibly think your impact would be greater is because you have money and is in a better position than those who live in a third world country. However, it is the situation of those living in the third world countries that keep you wanting to do as well as you do.
You are not judging these people based on their race, you are just noticing the lack of resources they have available to them. If their country as a whole is developing it is not realistic for one single person to make a giant impact on the world. In the United States we have every resource imaginable available to us to further ourselves in the world and make a difference. Racism is judging people due to simply their race, there are many white people, black people and every type of person in all different developing countries around the world. Even though it is hard for some people to admit, living in the United States alone makes you more empowered then many other people in their world. It is not your fault that you were born in America, when others were born in a suffering country.
As humans, we are always comparing. We compare restaurants, movies, songs, colleges, sports teams, books, tv shows, appliances, electronics….I could go on forever. But what we compare most are people. Who is prettier, smarter, funnier, richer, more stylish, more caring? I think I would probably be a happier, better person, if I didn't do this, but I think it is part of human nature. I don't think this guy or anyone else should feel guilty for thinking the may be "better" in any way. What would make it racist is if he said "I will probably make a bigger difference in the world because I am white." Of course, I am sure no one would ever say those words out loud. But if his reasons, or anyone's, were based on skin color alone, then yeah, that would be racist.
You can say a person is lazy, loud, bad at driving, good at math, or drinks too much, but if you think it is BECAUSE of their race, then that is stereotyping, and racist.
Another way to look at this is to think that you may do greater things, but it is because you already have the leg up. This goes back to the whole idea of freedom vs. determinism. Yeah, chances are that you will make a greater difference in the world because you can focus on that instead of shelter, safety, food and other basic needs. This have been taken care of for you. So in a third world country the people have to struggle to actually survive, they cannot even think about making a difference in the world. For the most part, they are trying to get by.
Are you better than them? Well, there isn't any way to tell. If you were given an even playing ground, it would be more obvious. If you had the same starting line, and tried to run a marathon, I could tell you who came in first place. But with the extremely unequal circumstances you were given, who is to say who is better?
I think its more about your position on the inheritance of your parents and so on and so fourth that allowed you your position to visit these countries and establish that you could do more for these people. But then it becomes a problem if doing more for them would actually help them, like getting businesses started, etc. like a government and civil projects. It seems that you can't really draw a line except for the extreme that you can judge yourself worth more as a person,as each person does something in that society to affect another. Best bet would be to say your worth just as much as this person so the opportunity is equal among both of you but some factors you can just never get rid of until times change and places develop.
Interesting comment for sure. Being a citizen of the United States it is easy to think that we are all somewhat “superior” to others. That said, I think it is inevitable that other people have more to offer. It is not racist to think that Americans are for some reason “better” than people of other countries. For some reasons, though I am sure it will be ill received, we are. I do not think it comes down to a matter of skin tone though. White Americans are not better than Black or Brown Americans. I just should not become a skin color issue.
This is very interesting to hear this from an American, I am from India, which is a developing nation, I agree with the person in the video. the fact is that the people living in developed countries like America and the United Kingdom are most likely in a much more powerful and influential position than the developing nations are. The people living in the developed countries have a higher level of education than the people in the developing countries. This greatly affects the thinking of the people there.
This is a very interesting question. While I think that there is a fine line between what racism is and what is thinking that your race is superior to another, I think it can be very hard to find that line. This guy brings up a good point in asking. What he was saying about how he thinks he has the potential to make more of a difference and leave a bigger imprint on the world, is questionable. I assume he means that in terms of the fact that he comes from a very wealthy Western nation where he has the means to do things such as travel and receive a higher education. While I do think that when given the opportunity such as an education, it gives you the power and potential to make smart decisions such as opening a business or becoming a politician and make a difference in that way. However, I don’t think that being wealthy necessarily correlates with being able to make an impact on the world. Small compassionate deeds such as being there for another person in a time of need as a shoulder to cry on like the inmate was talking about is a small thing that makes a huge difference in the world and there is no money involved.
While I think that most people in western nations are inclined to be ethnocentric towards third world nations and think that our society is better than theirs. The way that we have grown up in our society with the United States always playing the international cop as well as the country who helps other countries around the world, regardless of what our motivations have been, it makes people think that our nation is better than others. However, I think you can also look at that and say that our nation has helped others because we had the means and resources to be able to do so.
To me being a racist means that you have hatred towards people of another particular race, but I think that there is a difference between hating another race and just looking at another country and acknowledging that they are less fortunate than ours. I don’t see why there is anything wrong with acknowledging that if you aren’t look down on this people in a negative way. Acknowledging that people need your help is the first step towards being able to help these people.
To me racism is a more personal hatred, while being ethnocentric is having a feeling of superiority that your culture is better than another. For example, two people can both be ethnocentric thinking that the U.S. is better than any other country, but one can be black and the other can be white and they might be racist against one another.
This question is a very good one and I think it is a very interesting one to answer and something I honestly would have never thought of otherwise it being asked so I am totally glad to answer it. While i think that the line between racism and a person thinking which race is more superior in other ones it is very hard to distinguish between the two and find where that line is. I am not sure if I understand necessarily the part where he says that he has the potential to necessarily make a difference, especially with this assumptions about more money meaning that he has the means to travel and get a better education. Education I know is a very powerful thing and something should not be wasted at the same time I feel like being wealthy doesnt neccessarily mean that you can make a difference on the world because that would be bull crap. Being rich and having a good education doesnt mean that you are going to be the next obama or something along those lines and make a huge impact on the world because a lot of people are rich and dont give a crap about whats going on in the world let alone could they make a difference in the world. I believe that people who are poor can make a difference because usually they are more humble than someone who is rich but that just depends on the person. In some western nations a lot of people are inclined to be ethnocentric toward third world nations because they dont really know what is going on and they think that their society is much better and they dont really care to know more. The way that we grow up in our society in the United States we are known and brought up to help other countries, such as Haiti and we are always donating money and stuff to other countries and that is just the way we have been brought up. And with that, that makes our country seem like it is better than others and in a lot of cases we have a better situation than most countries but that doesnt get us the right to act like it, not staying we do or dont. However, I think that you can also look at that and say our nation has helped out others just because of our means and resources. With all of this said, I think that racism mean judging someone based on there color or what they have based on their race and treating them differently because of it. I think that when people hate on each other among different races and treating them worse because they are a different race without actually getting to know them. And I dont think that is a difference between hating another race and looking at them because of there country because either way your judging someone without knowing them. To me racism is more than just personal hatred to an individual person but personal hatred in general. There is just hatred against someone because of something they cant control and especially their race.
Your right there is a very thin line between believing that you are better than someone else and believing that you have a greater capacity to good and help others. I think that your intentions are the only things that keep those two separate. If you believe that you are inherently better than another person or group of people, and that there is nothing that can change that. When you go about your life with the belief that “god” or some being made you special, you are being racist. We see this kind of racism very clearly with people that show this belief through hatred and violence. But it starts to become cloudy when we run into a person with that belief who does good things, and works to help the very people that they believe are “lesser” than they are. These people can be found in many different places and are hard to distinguish from the people that just want to help because they can. While they help the lesser people, they also work to change them and make them more like the “better” people. However there are the people that recognize the differences for what they really are, just differences. They realize that they have the capacity to help those that may be in need and wish to do so. These good deeds aren’t for themselves, but just to help the other. I believe that these people see that they have been born into a situation, not a right. And that this situation was purely luck of the draw, that they could have, just as easily been born into a place where they would not have had the same benefits. Because of the randomness of it all and the fact that you have the ability to help, doing so and recognizing this fact does not make you racist, at least to me. I think that it makes you self-aware. The amount that you can help is all that is different between those in “developed” nations and “developing” nations, if realizing that you can help makes you more likely to help, then I hope that at some point everyone who was born into this situation will someday realize it too.
I agree with this but I have never taken the time to think about it. I guess it is a little racist of people to think that they are better than a certain country or people of a different country just because they are better off or more financially happy in their lives. I understand that people feel that they are able to help certain people who are unfortunate in where they were placed in life but at the same time it is unfair for people to assume that others are more worthy of help because of their social status.
I do not think that your thoughts have anything to do with being racist or thinking that you are better than someone else. I think that it has to do with you recognizing that you are more financially secure than individuals in developing countries, and because of your financial security, you definitely have greater opportunities (like being on top of the mountain in Sam’s example of King of the Mountain) and better resources (state of the art technology). Therefore, due to the benefits that result from your financial security, I would definitely agree that you do in fact have a better chance of changing the world. Your race has nothing to do with me believing in your ability to change the world – no matter if you were black, Hispanic, Asian, etc., if you were still an American citizen attending a university (even if you are not the wealthiest person relative to American standards), you have shown that you are more financially secure than most individuals in developing countries.
This is an interesting topic you bring up. You said that you think that you probably have a better chance of affecting the world in a much greater way than people in a developing nation and I would agree with you 100%. It has nothing to do with the comparison of you to one of them. It’s the fact that you are most likely in a much more powerful and influential position than they are. You have much more money and a higher level of education than they do. Now if those two things were equal amongst you, I have no idea who would have the better chance of affecting the world. What you have is a greater opportunity than a person is a developing country.
[Reply]
I really don't see this as racism at all. I also don't see the statement of saying "i feel that I can help the world better than them" as you thinking you're a better person. There is a broad line. The whole deal about this is that you just feel that you have better resources than the people in the third world countries that would allow you to make a more progressive effect towards the world. This is an understandable thought. The citizens of the third world countries are living in poverty, and don't have as much that they can contribute that can make a big difference. Americans do. This is sort of no different than the people in American society themselves. The separation of upper, middle, and low class. There are those people in the lower and middle who feel they are better off or just happier than the upper class. The sad fact of the matter is the statistic that was said in class the other day that the United States only contributes .34 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to help developing countries. That was the true shocker that relates to this. I can make a good guess that if we surveyed the entire country and asked them if they feel they can help the world better than these third world countries can that at least 80 percent would say yes. But would most of them actually do it or would less than 50 percent? But when you think about it, the developing countries are already affecting the globe on a much larger scale than the prospering ones. If it weren't for their poverty, we would not feel the strong need to help out the other countries so much. We would most likely be focused on trade, with imports and exports as our method of growing and helping our own selves. The developing countries bring awareness to an issue. They open our eyes. They humble us. There is no need to twist your statement into saying it is a racist one. I do not really know you. You could be, but having the mindset that you can help the world better because you have more resources is not racist. And when you say racist, another question I have is towards who. This is more of a one society vs. another type of situation, not race against race. Even man vs man can be used instead. Resources are the key, not personality. The people in some of these developing countries probably have the best personalities there has ever been. They would probably love to give more if they had it. On the other hand, a person who does have enough to give can do it but be stingy with it. There is a big difference between wanting to help someone and actually thinking more highly of you.
[Reply]
I think this is a good question, but I think he might be putting to much of a quilt vibe out there. Just thinking that you have more a chance to make a difference in the world definitely doesn't make you a racist. I don't think acknowledging that you are more fortunate then other people should make you feel superior to anyone else, its just happenstance. We do live a sheltered life in America and we do have more of a chance to make real changes in the world because we are basically rich. But I don't think enough people feel that its there responsibility to help. Sam really made me think when he was talking about how we don't really earn all the things we have in life. If more people acknowledged that fact maybe they would be more inclined to help people and understand that they were just lucky enough to be born with certain advantages.
[Reply]
Knowing that you are able to make a change and that other people are less capable doesn’t make you a racist. Obviously some people have certain advantages and tools that allow them to make a change. The real question is are you going to do something about the fact that you are capable of change or are you just going to sit their, acknowledge your capabilities, and then do nothing. That can make it seem a little more racist because now it is like you know you are more capable of something and you judge other people for not being as capable.
[Reply]
I think it’s really tough to draw a line between two seemingly different positions that are indeed quite closely related. I think what you need to keep in mind is that when your actually considering what position you hold, you need to remember you are in these developing countries not because you think you’re better, but because you are willing to help. And it’s not just about being willing; it’s about having the financial resources and capability of traveling somewhere to help those who are less fortunate than you. In that regard, I feel as though you are just giving back to society, and that racism actually has no meaning in the circumstance.
[Reply]
I understand what he’s saying and to be honest I never thought of it this way. I know that if I were to go to developing countries I would probably come back thinking that same thing or that I am extremely lucky to be living how I am. I think that you have to think of it a certain way however. Not really that you are better than them but that you have more advantages then some on those people in these countries. I don’t think it has to do with being racist because you don’t think that your race is superior to theirs, just simply that you were lucky enough to have more resources.
[Reply]
This is an interesting way to spin the whole Idea and I can honestly say I never quite thought about it like that but I have come up with a stance on your view point and or question. I feel that yes you may be better off than people in third world countries developing from near nothing but that isnt to say that you are a better person. I don't want you to take that the wrong way, I don't know you and you could be an awesome guy but what a person has isnt what makes the person. I feel like it is what is on the inside, their values, their beliefs that make the person into who they are. Things can be given to anyone, once a person has these material possessions they are not automatically a better person. They may be viewed differently by others but that goes back to judging a book by its cover. If you have a guy pulling up in a beat 1988 Civic next to a guy in a 2010 Range your idea of self worth may be altered about those two individuals. When in reality the two men would be different even if they were driving the same car. It is all perception and what we have surrounding us often alters others perception of us.
[Reply]
I think that while thinking you could change the world better than someone from a developing country, isn't a bad thing as long as you remember the fact that your a single person doing things for the betterment of the world not to be better yourself. people need to remember that being better capable to affect the world is not being better or superior to other people. we as Americans are in a great position to aid the rest of the world through technology and education but we need to respect the people we help they have a different outlook on life and progress. I think that if we respect the people we help and the cultures we look to help then thinking were better or worth more will be hard to do because we'll be thinking about our contribution and not about being superior. you could argue that Nazi Germany saw it's self as a world changer for the better at first but they quickly grew into monsters, I'm not saying that they were doing any good, for them it was about getting revenge but trying to help people and taking over for them to make it easier would be a simple mater in order to make fixing the problems we see easier to fix.
[Reply]
I think in general no matter what you do, at the end of the day you are helping someone wether it be in this country or in a developing country. The reason why you would view someone else as a racist would be on their own judgement. I am sure in many of these developing country that we go in thinking that we are helping them ensures ours and their better quality of life. I feel like people here feel the need and reason and benefit to help more in developing countries because it gives them satisfaction, versus helping someone here.
[Reply]
i think that these are two different thoughts entirely. Just because you believe you have a better chance then someone else doesn't mean that's racist. i think if anything its cultural racism, because if you saw a poor white person on the street your obviously going to think you might have a better chance to succeed. i think racism is the feeling for hating someone because of their origins and how they live, not because you think you might be better off. but maybe im wrong and i am white and maybe i just cant see it, i think sam would just be proud im trying to think about it.
[Reply]
I think that your statement that you "probably have a better chance at affecting the world in a much greater way than the people in other countries do" is true in some ways but not all ways.
First i think its true in the sense since as an American and/or as someone who can afford to attend classes at Penn State you have many more resources available to you. We are blessed to be able to live with such freedom from financial burdens and to have the ability to choose what to do with our time. Therefore, i don't think the statement that we probably have a better chance is true but more along the lines that we have a better set of resources to make a greater impact. However, it is not about the resources but how we use them that makes the difference.
I would like to argue that as an American, you might have less chance of affecting the world. I say this only because we are raised in a very egocentric country (this too you know, since we talked about that also in class) that while we may hear about the need, we don't see it or feel it. We can easily give a few dollars here and there and make ourselves feel good about helping the "cause" but are we really affecting the world? Nahhhh. However, because of our money supply some of us may step up and travel across oceans to where there are people in truly desperate need. I think we all would agree that this is so much better than just chipping in a few dollars. But this is where the lecture we had teh other day on Haiti changed my thinking. I had always thought of the humanitarian work for other countries as 100% good. Now i see that there is more to think about.
After class, I went up to talk to Sam and to the guest lecturer and I heard talk about wanting to go and make a difference. Even my own thoughts were about "making a difference" but I think that when we think about this and want to go to a foreign country maybe just maybe some of us are doing it because it makes us feel good. We know that our resources that we are practically bathing in here are being put towards something good and we are proving ourselves as worthy. We try to prove ourselves as "good" people; (and here's where the racism issue comes in ) we might even be trying to prove ourselves as "better" people.
So, while i dont think you are necessarily racist for thinking that you have a better chance at helping people, i do think that if we allow ourselves to help out for the wrong reasons we all could very well find out that there are egotistic and racist motive behind them. Be careful of what you do and why you do it. Examine your conscience and do a check if the benefit to others is out weighing the benefit to you.
[Reply]
Because your thinking is based off of situational facts, I do not consider it racist. You are not declaring yourself a superior race or person based off of subjective information, rather you are basing it on your position in the world. You have many more resources in your life than they will probably ever have which is potentially saddening because you have probably met great people who you can relate to once you remove your economic status from the picture. I think a racist thinker is one who, if put in the same economic situation as the other person, would still consider themselves to be superior.
[Reply]
I think there is a fine line however i wouldn't necessarily consider that to be racism as long as you are able to distinguish a few things. If you feel that you are able to make a bigger difference in the world than someone who is in a developing country you have to realize that this is based solely on the fact that you were born in a country in which you automatically have way more opportunities than any other country in the world. If you know that your ability to do more is based on the luck of your situation and you know its not because you are a better or more fit person based on your race than i would not consider this racism.
[Reply]
I don’t think that it has to do with racism or thinking that you are better than anyone else. I think it’s just stating the truth, that we as Americans have the ability to make an impact where as if you go to a 3rd world country you can see that it’s much harder for them to make an impact. I don’t necessarily think that that makes you think that you are better than anyone, just that you are more able and accessible that other people. The real question is, now that we’ve realized that we have this ability to make a difference, an ability that others obviously don’t have, what do we do with that. Is that where it ends? Do we realize that we have this ability and they don’t and then move on? That might make it a little racist. However, if we realize that we have this ability to create change and then we do something about it, how can that be racist or thinking that you are better than anyone, its using you’re eligibility and accessibility as a means of helping.
I feel that the problem lies in those who think they are more able people, more intelligent, more “gifted” than other people without taking into the fact that you are just more accessible. This accessibility in no way makes people better, just able to do more with what they have been given. It all depends on how we consider ourselves better cotenants to make a difference, and how we employ this advantage and ability to make a change and a difference.
That’s also where the whole “politically incorrect” thing comes into play. Just by saying that you believe you can make a bigger difference than people less able does not make you a racist, but obviously you question that motive due to political correctness. I agree that sometimes there is a fine line between what can be considered racist and what is not, and sometimes things are said incorrectly which can give them a racist undertone, but it’s all in the execution and the way people perceive what you are saying. Maybe that makes you even less of a racist that you go to these other countries, look at the conditions that people are in, and conclude that you have been lucky enough to have the ability to enforce change and make things better, maybe for the people who you feel more capable than. Its not a bad or racist thing to realize your potential and the risks and hardships that prevent other less capable of employing such change.
So basically, no I do not think that what you are saying makes you a racist. I understand that if I were said in a different way, or if you realized this ability and did nothing with it that it would possibly qualify as racist.
[Reply]
I also agree with a majority of what everyone else has said regarding whether or not this can be considered as racist- there is definitely a fine line that is drawn, but just because you, by chance, have better opportunities than other people in undeveloped countries does not constitute as something so negative. It is especially unracistlike to want to be able to put these opportunities to use and really help other people out. I originally thought this video, because of the title, was going to be asking if a certain comment or term was considered racist, but I’m really glad that it was asking this question in particular, because it is something so interesting to consider. Overall, I really think it’s how you portray yourself. If you’re going to go around and parade the fact that you’re better off than a lot of other people in different countries, then maybe racism will come into play.
[Reply]
This is a very thought provoking and interesting question. I think inevitably there’s a fine line between thinking your better than someone and racism/bias. I think racism has a little bit more of an irrational fear and hatred for a specific group or groups of people. I think many people who could very well affect the living situations of developing countries are taught to worry about themselves from when they are raised. Even the simplistic “its not polite to stare” doesn’t allow for your curious mind to find out more about people. I can honestly say that some people probably don’t think of being able to helping these developing countries at all. Like this guy said it took him several trips to realize that he could be making a profound impact on thousands of lifes of other people in developing nations. I guess this goes along with the whole out of sight out of mind principle. I guess it’s difficult to draw the line where racism starts and not caring begins.
[Reply]
I think that legal immigrants as long as they are paying taxes should receive the same health care as every other American citizen. If immigrant is here legally I think it'd be difficult to refuse coverage. If an immigrant is here illegally again I think it might be difficult to refuse coverage, but what if immigrants started to come here solely for the purpose of receiving free (or discounted) healthcare that they very well could receive in their own nation? I am well aware of the many companies especially along the Mexican border that use undocumented works so our commodities are cheaper, but I feel like you have to draw the line somewhere. If not stiffer border protection and more expensive commodities would come at the price not letting illegal immigrants to use our health care, I say so be it.
[Reply]
I agree there is a very fine line and it is hard to determine what is just, well confidence in the affect you will have on the world, and what is just plain racism. I think that you didn't do anything wrong and that many people would feel that way. However, I don't think it is because you simply think you're better. I think it is because we come from a nation that provides us with so many more opportunities and advantages than developing 3rd world countries do. It is simply what is available to you. I'm sure if the people in those countries had the same opportunities we do as Americans, they would go on to accomplish so much in this world. I mean for all we know one of them could have the cure to cancer, but don't have the opportunities to get a good education and go on to do research, because of the lack of what is available to them.
I mean its the same here in America. A rich white person is no better than a poor black person simply because they could afford to go to a good school and were, therefore, introduced to many more opportunities and more doors were opened to them. It is not a race thing, it is more of a class issue than anything.
Unfortunately, I know there are many people here in our country that do genuinely believe they are better than say a tribe in New Guinea or the poor in Ethiopia or Haiti. It is an unfortunate fact, but the truth about some of Americans and I think we need to change that. I don’t think that many people take the perspective that maybe they were just fortunate enough to be given the wealth and freedom that they have to live a more than comfortable life.
I also, think that we need to change the mind set of many of those who are fortunate in this country. I think being arrogant is sometimes mistaken for self-confidence in this country. Being arrogant is not okay, because we are all equally important. We may not all have the same situations or the same finances, but every man is as important of the next, regardless of race, upbringing, religion, class, etc;
I think all you can do is hope to use what has been given to you here in America, and give back to those 3rd world countries you visited, so that maybe one day they can make a difference in the world as well. Simply caring is making a difference and I think that is what is the most important thing.
[Reply]
This is an interesting point. I definitely see what your saying, but I guess maybe if you start to think this way, you just need to remind yourself of the truth. Think about how the only reason you are in a position to help is because you were born into a position that allows you to get an education. You are able to make money at a greater rate than these poor people, because of where you live and who your parents are. You are lucky, not chosen. If you can see this, then hopefully you will not see yourself as the great, chosen one who deserves all he gets and others are simply lucky enough to receive what they get. The truth is, in a purely economic sense, the average Penn State student probably is worth more than a starving person is Haiti, because others have invested more in you, but it is simply by luck that we have received that investment. Keep that in mind, and hopefully you can keep things in perspective.
[Reply]
Additional Blog#2
There is nothing wrong with believing that you can make an impact on the world. However, when you get to the point where you think your impact is better than someone else’s that is when you must examine something inside yourself. What gives you right to think that your impact on the world is better than anyone else’s? I don’t think this has to do with racism in particular, but it does have everything to do with classism and money. I mean the only reason you possibly think your impact would be greater is because you have money and is in a better position than those who live in a third world country. However, it is the situation of those living in the third world countries that keep you wanting to do as well as you do.
[Reply]
You are not judging these people based on their race, you are just noticing the lack of resources they have available to them. If their country as a whole is developing it is not realistic for one single person to make a giant impact on the world. In the United States we have every resource imaginable available to us to further ourselves in the world and make a difference. Racism is judging people due to simply their race, there are many white people, black people and every type of person in all different developing countries around the world. Even though it is hard for some people to admit, living in the United States alone makes you more empowered then many other people in their world. It is not your fault that you were born in America, when others were born in a suffering country.
[Reply]
As humans, we are always comparing. We compare restaurants, movies, songs, colleges, sports teams, books, tv shows, appliances, electronics….I could go on forever. But what we compare most are people. Who is prettier, smarter, funnier, richer, more stylish, more caring? I think I would probably be a happier, better person, if I didn't do this, but I think it is part of human nature. I don't think this guy or anyone else should feel guilty for thinking the may be "better" in any way. What would make it racist is if he said "I will probably make a bigger difference in the world because I am white." Of course, I am sure no one would ever say those words out loud. But if his reasons, or anyone's, were based on skin color alone, then yeah, that would be racist.
You can say a person is lazy, loud, bad at driving, good at math, or drinks too much, but if you think it is BECAUSE of their race, then that is stereotyping, and racist.
Another way to look at this is to think that you may do greater things, but it is because you already have the leg up. This goes back to the whole idea of freedom vs. determinism. Yeah, chances are that you will make a greater difference in the world because you can focus on that instead of shelter, safety, food and other basic needs. This have been taken care of for you. So in a third world country the people have to struggle to actually survive, they cannot even think about making a difference in the world. For the most part, they are trying to get by.
Are you better than them? Well, there isn't any way to tell. If you were given an even playing ground, it would be more obvious. If you had the same starting line, and tried to run a marathon, I could tell you who came in first place. But with the extremely unequal circumstances you were given, who is to say who is better?
[Reply]
I think its more about your position on the inheritance of your parents and so on and so fourth that allowed you your position to visit these countries and establish that you could do more for these people. But then it becomes a problem if doing more for them would actually help them, like getting businesses started, etc. like a government and civil projects. It seems that you can't really draw a line except for the extreme that you can judge yourself worth more as a person,as each person does something in that society to affect another. Best bet would be to say your worth just as much as this person so the opportunity is equal among both of you but some factors you can just never get rid of until times change and places develop.
[Reply]
Interesting comment for sure. Being a citizen of the United States it is easy to think that we are all somewhat “superior” to others. That said, I think it is inevitable that other people have more to offer. It is not racist to think that Americans are for some reason “better” than people of other countries. For some reasons, though I am sure it will be ill received, we are. I do not think it comes down to a matter of skin tone though. White Americans are not better than Black or Brown Americans. I just should not become a skin color issue.
[Reply]
This is very interesting to hear this from an American, I am from India, which is a developing nation, I agree with the person in the video. the fact is that the people living in developed countries like America and the United Kingdom are most likely in a much more powerful and influential position than the developing nations are. The people living in the developed countries have a higher level of education than the people in the developing countries. This greatly affects the thinking of the people there.
[Reply]
This is a very interesting question. While I think that there is a fine line between what racism is and what is thinking that your race is superior to another, I think it can be very hard to find that line. This guy brings up a good point in asking. What he was saying about how he thinks he has the potential to make more of a difference and leave a bigger imprint on the world, is questionable. I assume he means that in terms of the fact that he comes from a very wealthy Western nation where he has the means to do things such as travel and receive a higher education. While I do think that when given the opportunity such as an education, it gives you the power and potential to make smart decisions such as opening a business or becoming a politician and make a difference in that way. However, I don’t think that being wealthy necessarily correlates with being able to make an impact on the world. Small compassionate deeds such as being there for another person in a time of need as a shoulder to cry on like the inmate was talking about is a small thing that makes a huge difference in the world and there is no money involved.
While I think that most people in western nations are inclined to be ethnocentric towards third world nations and think that our society is better than theirs. The way that we have grown up in our society with the United States always playing the international cop as well as the country who helps other countries around the world, regardless of what our motivations have been, it makes people think that our nation is better than others. However, I think you can also look at that and say that our nation has helped others because we had the means and resources to be able to do so.
To me being a racist means that you have hatred towards people of another particular race, but I think that there is a difference between hating another race and just looking at another country and acknowledging that they are less fortunate than ours. I don’t see why there is anything wrong with acknowledging that if you aren’t look down on this people in a negative way. Acknowledging that people need your help is the first step towards being able to help these people.
To me racism is a more personal hatred, while being ethnocentric is having a feeling of superiority that your culture is better than another. For example, two people can both be ethnocentric thinking that the U.S. is better than any other country, but one can be black and the other can be white and they might be racist against one another.
[Reply]
This question is a very good one and I think it is a very interesting one to answer and something I honestly would have never thought of otherwise it being asked so I am totally glad to answer it. While i think that the line between racism and a person thinking which race is more superior in other ones it is very hard to distinguish between the two and find where that line is. I am not sure if I understand necessarily the part where he says that he has the potential to necessarily make a difference, especially with this assumptions about more money meaning that he has the means to travel and get a better education. Education I know is a very powerful thing and something should not be wasted at the same time I feel like being wealthy doesnt neccessarily mean that you can make a difference on the world because that would be bull crap. Being rich and having a good education doesnt mean that you are going to be the next obama or something along those lines and make a huge impact on the world because a lot of people are rich and dont give a crap about whats going on in the world let alone could they make a difference in the world. I believe that people who are poor can make a difference because usually they are more humble than someone who is rich but that just depends on the person. In some western nations a lot of people are inclined to be ethnocentric toward third world nations because they dont really know what is going on and they think that their society is much better and they dont really care to know more. The way that we grow up in our society in the United States we are known and brought up to help other countries, such as Haiti and we are always donating money and stuff to other countries and that is just the way we have been brought up. And with that, that makes our country seem like it is better than others and in a lot of cases we have a better situation than most countries but that doesnt get us the right to act like it, not staying we do or dont. However, I think that you can also look at that and say our nation has helped out others just because of our means and resources. With all of this said, I think that racism mean judging someone based on there color or what they have based on their race and treating them differently because of it. I think that when people hate on each other among different races and treating them worse because they are a different race without actually getting to know them. And I dont think that is a difference between hating another race and looking at them because of there country because either way your judging someone without knowing them. To me racism is more than just personal hatred to an individual person but personal hatred in general. There is just hatred against someone because of something they cant control and especially their race.
[Reply]
Your right there is a very thin line between believing that you are better than someone else and believing that you have a greater capacity to good and help others. I think that your intentions are the only things that keep those two separate. If you believe that you are inherently better than another person or group of people, and that there is nothing that can change that. When you go about your life with the belief that “god” or some being made you special, you are being racist. We see this kind of racism very clearly with people that show this belief through hatred and violence. But it starts to become cloudy when we run into a person with that belief who does good things, and works to help the very people that they believe are “lesser” than they are. These people can be found in many different places and are hard to distinguish from the people that just want to help because they can. While they help the lesser people, they also work to change them and make them more like the “better” people. However there are the people that recognize the differences for what they really are, just differences. They realize that they have the capacity to help those that may be in need and wish to do so. These good deeds aren’t for themselves, but just to help the other. I believe that these people see that they have been born into a situation, not a right. And that this situation was purely luck of the draw, that they could have, just as easily been born into a place where they would not have had the same benefits. Because of the randomness of it all and the fact that you have the ability to help, doing so and recognizing this fact does not make you racist, at least to me. I think that it makes you self-aware. The amount that you can help is all that is different between those in “developed” nations and “developing” nations, if realizing that you can help makes you more likely to help, then I hope that at some point everyone who was born into this situation will someday realize it too.
[Reply]
I agree with this but I have never taken the time to think about it. I guess it is a little racist of people to think that they are better than a certain country or people of a different country just because they are better off or more financially happy in their lives. I understand that people feel that they are able to help certain people who are unfortunate in where they were placed in life but at the same time it is unfair for people to assume that others are more worthy of help because of their social status.
[Reply]
I do not think that your thoughts have anything to do with being racist or thinking that you are better than someone else. I think that it has to do with you recognizing that you are more financially secure than individuals in developing countries, and because of your financial security, you definitely have greater opportunities (like being on top of the mountain in Sam’s example of King of the Mountain) and better resources (state of the art technology). Therefore, due to the benefits that result from your financial security, I would definitely agree that you do in fact have a better chance of changing the world. Your race has nothing to do with me believing in your ability to change the world – no matter if you were black, Hispanic, Asian, etc., if you were still an American citizen attending a university (even if you are not the wealthiest person relative to American standards), you have shown that you are more financially secure than most individuals in developing countries.
[Reply]